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Lord Mandelson has confirmed the responsibilities of his team at the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

BIS controversially brings together two former Departments - the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Lord Mandelson said: "Our purpose is to help the government bring the country out of recession and build up our economic strengths and competitiveness - I and my ministerial team are resolutely focussed on this task.

"The government needs to provide active and urgent help to business and employees.”

Lord Mandelson will take overall responsibility for the department and will also spend part of his time “in Cabinet Office as First Secretary of State” – in effect the deputy prime minister.

Lord Mandelson’s deputy, who will also attend Cabinet, will be Pat McFadden, who takes the title Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills. BIS said his “particular focus” will be “on Industrial Activism - New Industry, New Jobs”.

Lord Drayson is confirmed as minister for Science and Innovation, in a joint appointment with the Ministry of Defence, and he will also attend Cabinet.

He will be responsible for innovation, the Technology Strategy Board, science policy and “wealth creation from science”.

David Lammy keeps his old title of Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property.

BIS said he is responsible for: “Building strong relationships across the higher education sector, higher education teaching quality, Higher Education Strategy, and the Research Assessment Exercise and Research Excellence Framework.

He will be responsible for “seeking to increase significantly the number of people qualified to Level 4 (or university level skills) and above”, and for encouraging voluntary giving in higher education, as well as “student support policy - student grants and loans, all student loans issues, sponsorship of Higher Education Funding Council for England and Student Loans Company, intellectual property issues and the Intellectual Property Office”.

Kevin Brennan is Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs, in a joint appointment with the Department of Children, Schools and Families.

Lord Young of Norwood Green is minister for postal affairs and employment relations, but this role includes responsibility for “student issues”.

The other ministers are Rosie Winterton (regional economic development and coordination); Lord Davies of Abersoch (trade, investment and business); Baroness Vadera (economic competiveness, small business and enterprise); Ian Lucas (business and regulatory reform); Lord Carter of Barnes (communications, technology and broadcasting)

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